Farewell to the transfer window. Good morning to the start of the rest of the season.

The focus now is purely on football.

Of course, that's the way it should always be. But then the workings of the January window are such that last night's hugely important game almost felt like the support act in the build-up.

If that was the case, then Adlene Guedioura was a rather surprise headliner.

And it rather summed up the last 12 months for Jordan Rhodes that come 9am this morning, he was still waiting for confirmation as to whether the remainder of his season would be spent trying to win a second successive promotion or trying to win a place on the bench.

All in all Tuesday night was a rather odd end to an an odd couple of days bringing to a close an odd window.

After all, it's not exactly common place to spend the final hours of a window watching Tony Pulis in the technical area waving his arms around more than a choir conductor.

But he wasn't the only boss who was animated. Aitor Karanka too showed his emotion down on the touchline, for the Boro boss knew only too well the importance of this visit of West Brom. Particularly after what he'd had to say at his press conference the day prior.

Tuesday felt like an important day for Boro both on and off the pitch.

On it, given the fact it was the battle of the Premier League pragmatists, you'd have been forgiven for expecting a repeat of what was served up when these sides met earlier in the season.

But it was a far more open game with both bosses left to reflect on missed chances at one end and being relieved at missed chances at the other.

Aitor Karanka during the West Brom draw (Image: Katie Lunn)

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In what was an entertaining old-fashioned physical battle, Boro had the better of the first half but only after they'd equalised and will have felt they should have been ahead at the break. But as the hosts ran out of steam in the second period, it was the Baggies who were looking more likely.

Thankfully, Matty Phillips doesn't the share the accuracy of Teesside's global tungsten champion Glen Durrant, who was in the crowd. Phillips had two or three glorious opportunities in the second period but fluffed his lines.

In such a crucial game, Boro didn't fluff theirs. They showed up and put in a battling, spirited display. But as the pack tightens at the bottom, we're getting to the stage where Boro simply have to start turning draws into wins.

Here's what we learnt from the 1-1 draw with West Brom:

A massive moment

It's been a bizarre period since the home defeat to West Ham with the manager first calling the fans into question and then the recruitment.

Given the feel of importance surrounding the game, the start needed to be positive. James Morrison clearly hadn't bothered reading that script.

And going 1-0 down to a Tony Pulis side is like getting knocked down twice in the first round of a heavyweight bout and having to dust yourself down to win on points.

In the immediate aftermath of the opener it was West Brom who were looking more likely to grab the second goal - so how timely was Gareth McCauley's clumsy challenge on Alvaro Negredo in the box.

It offered Boro the olive branch they needed. And it sparked them into life. Until the second half of the second period when they ran out of steam once more.

Alvaro Negredo after his penalty against West Brom (Image: Katie Lunn)

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We'll only know in weeks to come whether Boro can turn the award of a penalty and, in turn, an extra point on the board into a season defining moment but given the significance, there's no doubt it was one of the most important singular moments of the campaign so far.

Three points would have been the perfect medicine but a point is no nightmare.

Aitor Karanka will surely appreciate a spirited display from his players the day after he claimed he "didn't know" if the squad was good enough to stay up.

Karanka must now put this bizarre spell behind him. The message from the head coach must be calmness and confidence rather than the mixed signals he's sent out of late.

Time for a truce

How good was Chris Brunt's delivery at the Riverside last night?

How many times did that well trained left boot of his deliver a dangerous cross from the left which sparked trouble in the box?

As Brunt caught the eye, a player who he looked up to as a youngster in the Boro ranks watched on from the bench.

Chris Brunt and Marten de Roon (Image: PA)

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Stewart Downing was exceptional against Accrington on Saturday but Aitor Karanka hinted on Monday that a classy showing against a League Two side wasn't going to be enough to merit a starting spot against the Baggies. And so it proved.

Aitor Karanka also said on Monday that Gaston Ramirez would be going nowhere. So it proved.

Now is the time for a truce. Now is the time for the manager to find a way of getting the best out of both of them.

If Boro are to carve out more openings in the final third - which was still their undoing in the second half against West Brom - Karanka needs Ramirez to be threatening rather than sulking - as Downing was on Saturday.

He needs both to be on song and on form. Though for that to be the case with Downing, the ex-England man needs to play.

It was still telling that Karanka chose to start Stuani ahead of him on the left and telling that he opted for Patrick Bamford, who he says is some way short of match fitness, as his first substitute.

For long stages this month it looked as thought the manager would be getting another attacking midfielder but that hasn't proved to be the case.

Stewart Downing was an unused substitute (Image: Katie Lunn)

At times it's looked as though Downing and Ramirez would be on their way but that hasn't been the case.

Rather than mull over missed opportunities in the window, Boro are in a position where they simply need to get the best out of what they've got going forward.

That means getting Ramirez smiling again - even if it's for half a season - and giving Downing more game-time.

Traore looking polished

A final ball transformation!

In a matter of weeks, Traore has gone from erratic to accurate when it comes to that finishing touch at the end of of one of his charging runs forward.

Twice in the first half against West Brom he delivered crosses from the right which any wideman at any level would be proud of. Unfortunately, they didn't get the finishing touch they deserved.

Credit to Aitor Karanka and the coaching staff for Traore's improvement of late.

Adama Traore in action for Boro (Image: Getty Images Europe)

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The head coach still bawls out tactical instructions and it's clear Traore is taking them on board.

With Stuani somewhat muted over on the left, Traore was Boro's lone outlet against West Brom for long stages but doubling up on him doesn't necessarily work - he still manages to wriggle away from challenges and causes problems.